EMT-Basic of the Year

Daniel Carter
Community Methodist Hosptial
Henderson

• Recognized for:
  • Commitment
  • Dedication to quality
  • Dedication to others in a time of need
• Events and experiences that exhibit the recipient's commitment to quality:
• Never hesitates to overcome barriers in order to provide patient care
• Words that describe the recipient:
• Exceptional
• Dedicated
• Honor
• Integrity
• Trustworthy
• The recipient spends his spare time:
• Furthering his education
• Currently enrolled in paramedic class
• Teaching EMS classes
• Past work experience includes:
• Long standing EMT
• Always ready to assist other patient care providers in times of need.

EMT-Paramedic of the Year

J.P. Price
Knox County EMS
Barbourville

[Nomination submitted by Joe Bradshaw, Knox County EMS Director]

Like so many others across the country, Paramedic J.P. Price was so moved and saddened by the events of September 11, 2001 that he decided to travel to New York City to pay homage to the fallen heroes at the World Trade Center site. J.P., a deeply compassionate man, felt as if his visit was only a small gesture compared to the huge losses people had suffered. J.P. felt the least that he could do was to express his admiration for the bravery displayed by his fellow EMS workers. And so, he began his pilgrimage to New York City, totally unaware how important his adventure would be.

May 3, 2002, J.P. boarded US Airways Flight 554 enroute to New York from Charlotte, NC. Approximately 30 minutes prior to the plane landing, an elderly gentleman seated two rows ahead of JP began signaling the stewardess. The gentleman began to explain to the stewardess that he had been quite nauseous since boarding the plane and had vomited several times. J.P. observed the gentleman and noticed that he was very diaphoretic, experienced labored breathing and was leaning over the edge of his seat in distress. J.P. identified himself as a paramedic to the stewardess and to the man and asked if he could be of assistance. Both individuals readily agreed. The stewardess assisted J.P. by administering oxygen to the gentleman by the planes on board oxygen system and gathered the planes on board ALS equipment.

After beginning the oxygen therapy, J.P. began his assessment. The patient revealed that he had two previous heart attacks and was also a diabetic. J.P. placed the gentleman on a palm sized EKG machine which revealed that the patient was experiencing bradycardia, ST elevation and unifocal PVC’s. Without a doubt, this patient was having a full blown MI on the plane. J.P. immediately administered the Nitro and continued the oxygen therapy.

J.P. then notified the flight Captain to have EMS standing by at the airport in New York. As he continued to offer comfort and support, the patient’s condition began to improve. Upon arrival, J.P. turned the patient over to the Port Authority EMS crew. The patient and their family expressed their sincerest gratitude. JP, being the humble man that he is, was somewhat embarrassed about the fuss being made over him. Even the supervisors and crews of US Airways gave JP special recognition. J.P.’s goal in traveling to New York City was to place service patches from Knox, Bell and Claiborne Counties at Ground Zero to pay tribute to fallen heroes of September 11. Meanwhile, by simply answering his own call to duty on Flight 554, JP became a hero himself.

Jean Brown
Linda Byrd
Sue Green
Jessamine County 911

[Nomination submitted by Chief Wendell R. Hatfield, Jessamine County EMS]

I would like to nominate three individuals as EMS Dispatchers of the year. The three nominations are on the same shift, and all three are experienced and dedicated telecommunicators.

The reason for nominating all of the shift personnel instead of one is that they all worked a tragic incident here in Jessamine County on November 13, 2001. Jessamine County lost two Deputy Sheriffs in the line of duty while attempting to serve a warrant. A third deputy was severely injured, and has not returned to field duty.

The three telecommunicators were on a shift and worked this incident on the tragic day of November 13, 2001. I would like all three to nominate and hopefully they will be recognized during the Awards Banquet. Telecommunicators’ Jean Brown, Linda Byrd and Sue Green all performed to the highest standards.

They not only coordinated efforts and response of the Jessamine County EMS, but they helped others such as the Sheriff’s Department, Nicholasville Police Department, Kentucky State Police, UK Air Medical and countless other tasks. My dilemma is that I can’t just nominate one of these individuals, and if I do it would be an injustice to each one of three telecommunicators.

This horrible and tragic day was a very chaotic and trying day because of the limited radio contact due to the location of the incident, and the unknown location of one of the deputies who was in a POV with a neighbor of the assailant. The neighbor was taking the deputy to get help, and later the deputy made a rendezvous with a KSP trooper, and without the aid of dispatch attempting to locate the injured deputy, the deputy might have experienced further damage regarding his GSW injuries.

McLean County Central District Fire and Rescue

• Recognized for: Establish in 1952; in 1972, expanded their mission to include rescue and EMS; and provides technical rescue services to other McLean County Fire Departments as well as McLean County EMS.
• This department is also being recognized for: 
  • 30 years of service; 
  • Utilizing continuous quality improvement to expand services; 
  • Creating an Created Explorer Program, Chaplain Program and currently developing a High Angle Rescue Team;
  • Being a believer in education, with various training programs that educate personnel in different areas;
• Being a leader in technology; and
• Participating in community, state and national organizations, including KFA, KAEMT, and the National Volunteer Fire Council.
• Events that clearly exhibits the recipient's dedication to EMS service:
• The 1997 Flood which left 67% of McLean County underwater.
• The 2002 F2 Tornado which struck Calhoun
• Words that best describe this recipient:
• Commitment, Dedication and Sacrifice.

Carl R (Rudy) Garrett
Somerset Fire and EMS

• Recognized for:
  • Devoted numerous hours each year while instructing and educating his peers
  • Serves on many local and state level committees concerning education and training of EMT’s and Paramedics.
  • Shown an increased interest in and devotion to increasing the Scope of Practice of Paramedics in the Commonwealth of KY.
• Events and experiences that exhibit the recipient's commitment to quality:
  • Coordinates various EMT and Paramedic classes that have had well over a 75% pass rate.
• Words or phrases that describe this recipient:
  • Well Informed and Educated, Out-going, Devoted, Honest and Dedicated.
• The recipient spends his spare time:
  • Devoted family man with two daughters
  • Serves as Training Director for the local Rescue Squad
  • Serves his church by serving on the Board of Trustees
  • Member of KEMTIA, KY AAMS, National Flight Medic Assoc.
• The recipient's past work experience includes:
  • Graduated EMT school in 1987
  • Graduated from EKU in 1990
  • Began at Somerset Fire and EMS in 1989
  • Advanced to Lt. in 1992
  • Advanced to Asst. Training Coordinator in 1997 and then to Training Coordinator in 2000.

EMS Special Recognition

Johnnie Phillips
McLean County Central District

• Recognized for:
  • Began his career in 1963 with Beech Grove Fire Department
  • Completed EMT class in 1972 with EMT # 536
  • Served as the only EMT in McLean County for several years
  • Currently serves as the safety and rehab officer while responding to emergencies daily.
• Events and experiences that exhibit the recipient's commitment to quality:
  • Over 30 years of dedication, the events are too numerous to list.
• Words or phrases that describe the recipient:
  • Lifelong Dedication, Willing and Love for the Community.
  • A quote from Mrs. Phillips, " If the call came in, he was off and running."
• The recipient spends his spare time:
  • Johnnie is retired and enjoys spoiling his seven grandchildren.
  • Church trustee
  • Enjoys community activities and NASCAR
   

EMS Outstanding Recognition
Awarded by the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association

Michael T. Swift
Barren Metcalfe County EMS
Glasgow

• Attended the first paramedic course in Kentucky with a paramedic license number 138-P
• Hired one month before the ambulance service was actually started in 1974
• Has taught numerous EMT courses for various agencies including the Kentucky State Police
• Barren County Coroner
• Masters in Education from Western Kentucky University
• President of the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association
• Kentucky Board of EMS Board Member
• Mike has been very instrumental in the following:
• Continuing to organize EMS in Kentucky as one collaborative unit
• Has tackled Kentucky's Medicare crisis and had positive results
• Has had Kentucky recognized on a national level for their handling of the Medicare Crisis.
• A true gentleman representing EMS across the Commonwealth

EMS Outstanding Recognition
Awarded by the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association

Joe B. Bradshaw
Knox County EMS
Barbourville

• Began career in 1974 as volunteer with the local rescue squad in Russell Springs
• Became the Director of Russell County EMS in 1987
• Computerized Russell County 911
• In 1991, Joe became a Regional EMS advisor for the Cabinet for Health Services EMS Branch
• Initiated the first paramedic class at Hazard, Kentucky
• Became the Director of Knox County EMS in 1993
• Created the Knox and Laurel Special Operations Team that provides technical rescue services to the region.
• Director of Knox County EMA
• Member of the Kentucky Community Crisis Response Team
• Joe is a lay minister for the Methodist Church
• Father of five daughters
• Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association board member and Vice President
• Joe has diligently worked hard to improve the services of Knox County as well as across the Commonwealth through various positions.

Dr. Jack Carey Award
Awarded by the Kentucky EMT Instructors Association

The Dr. Jack Carey Award, made possible by a grant from Rohm and Haas, Inc., is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Carey, a Lexington physician who helped spearhead the development of emergency medicine in Kentucky, and who aided many EMS responders in furthering their education and training, assisting wherever necessary to better EMS care in the state. The award honors an EMT-Instructor who is outstanding in the training they provide, furthering the future of EMTs and all EMS providers in the state.

Phil Taylor

Over the years there have been many dedicated instructors that have given tirelessly of their time and effort on behalf of the Kentucky EMT Instructors' Association, but none more than this year's recipient.
     This person became interested in EMS while covering wrecks for radio and TV and entered EMT class in 1972. He EMT number is 1394; he EMT-Instructor number is 81 and his Instructor-Trainer number is 13. His career in EMS service includes:

• Serving for forty years on the Corbin Fire Department, retiring in 2002 due to health reasons;
• Serving as the first director of Tri-County Ambulance Service in Whitley County;
• Serving KEMTIA on the Executive Board as President, Past President, Regional Representative, and HIV/AIDS Certificate Coordinator; and serving as an Instructor-Trainer appointed by the Kentucky EMS Branch.

     Loyalty and dedication are a way of life for this instructor. Countless time and travel have been donated on the behalf of EMS program development and delivery. This instructor is a leader, a team player, and a mentor. He has spent countless hours counseling any instructor who needed advice or help. Most importantly, all of this is accomplished with care and concern for others that is rarely matched.
     He sets the standard for EMS representation and rightly deserves the honor of becoming the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Jack Carey Award for 2002.

KAEMT Award
Awarded by the Kentucky Association of EMTs

Mike McCord